A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
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International Society for Infectious Diseases <http://www.isid.org>
Date: Thu 28 Jul 2011
Source: Caracol TV, Agencia EFE report [in Spanish, trans. Corr.SB, summ. Mod.DHA, edited] <http://www.caracoltv.com/noticias/tecnologia/articulo-231914-investigadores-encuentran-peligroso-hongo-el-zapallo>
Researchers find dangerous fungus in pumpkins
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Scientists from the National University [NU] discovered fungi that cause serious disease in this vegetable. One of the organisms had not been reported in the crop [before].
Pumpkin is one of the most important vegetables in Colombia with an area of 3600 hectares [8900 acres] planted in 2007 producing 65 000 tons. But fungal problems appeared in the crop in recent years leading to research at NU. Several fungal diseases were found, including a previously unknown _Nigrospora_ species that causes lesions on the leaves of pumpkin.
Serious pathogens were identified in the 3 areas evaluated including species of _Alternaria_, _Curvularia_, _Fusarium_, _Oidium_, _Penicillium_, _Nigrospora_ and mycelia sterilia [non-spore producing fungi. - Mod.DHA] The greatest impact was due to _Fusarium_ species responsible for a sudden wilt that can even cause death [of the plant].
The scientists say the study records the pathogens of pumpkin [in Colombia], and opens the way to developing fungicides and other means of disease control.
--
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[National crop pathogen surveys like the one described above provide valuable information for agricultural management, increasing food security and addressing international biosecurity issues. The data also make important contributions towards the knowledge of individual pathogens (including geographical 1st reports and new species), their epidemiology and distribution.
Fungi in the genera mentioned above include pathogens causing a range of leaf, fruit, and root diseases on cucurbits and/or other crops, as well as benign epiphytes (see link below). It is not clear from the report above whether all the fungal isolates recovered have been associated with disease, or whether work to describe the _Nigrospora_ species claimed to be a new pathogen and the mycelia sterilia has been completed.
For more information on a range of cucurbit fungal diseases see previous ProMED-mail posts in the archives and links below.
Maps of Colombia:
<http://worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/samerica/lgcolor/cocolor.htm>
and
<http://healthmap.org/r/00*s>
Pictures
Photo galleries of fungal symptoms on cucurbits via:
<http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/PhotoPages/PhotoGallery.htm#Cucurbit>
Links
Information on selected fungal pumpkin diseases via:
<http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/factsheets/Cucurbit_List.htm>
List of major fungal diseases of cucurbits via:
<http://www.apsnet.org/publications/commonnames/Pages/Curcubits.aspx>
Fungal epiphytes on cucurbits:
<http://www.iccc12.info/abstract/ab_yongchun.pdf>
All fungal taxonomy via:
<http://www.indexfungorum.org/names/Names.asp>
Information on mycelia sterilia:
<http://www.suite101.com/content/mycelia-sterilia-a83114>. - Mod.DHA]
[see also:
2010
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Powdery mildew, pumpkin - USA: (NY) 20100826.3007 Blight diseases, rice & pumpkin - USA 20100723.2468 Yellow vine decline & fusarium wilt, watermelon - USA 20100615.2003
2009
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Gummy stem blight, watermelon - USA: new strains 20090521.1899
2008
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Sudden wilt, muskmelon - Oman 20080211.0543
2007
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Downy mildew, cucurbits - USA: (SC), new strain 20071023.3448 Fungal diseases, vegetable crops - Canada: cucumber, potato
20070730.2442
Downy mildew, cucumber - USA (OH, MI), Canada (ON) 20070704.2120 Powdery mildew, watermelon - USA: resistance breeding 20070422.1320
2006
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Downy mildew, cucumber - Canada (ON), USA (MI) 20060803.2149
2005
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Fusarium solani races, watermelon - Tunisia 20050409.1023
2004
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Phytophthora blight, vine crops - USA 20040428.1185 and additional items on cucurbit fungi in the archives]
Topics
Species
